IN less than a week, PBA Season 48 hostilities resume with the kickoff of the Philippine Cup pitting Terrafirma versus Converge and NorthPort opposite NLEX at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo on Feb. 28.
Recent Commissioner's Cup title protagonists San Miguel Beer and Magnolia won't see action until Week 3 of the single-round-robin elimination phase with stops in various provinces and an inaugural series of play dates at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Day 2 features Blackwater versus Meralco and TNT Tropang Giga against Rain or Shine on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum quickly followed by an opening weekend bill also at the Big Dome.
It's NLEX versus Terrafirma and Converge opposite NorthPort on Saturday then Blackwater against TNT and Rain or Shine versus Meralco on Sunday.
Phoenix Super LPG, coming from a semifinal finish in the recent Commissioner's Cup, makes its Philippine Cup debut against NorthPort on March 8 also at the Big Dome.
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Two nights later in the same venue, the Fuel Masters clash with the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
The Beermen, now the reigning Philippine Cup and Commissioner's Cup champs, have the Elasto Painters as initial assignment on March 15 then the Hotshots play their first game against the FiberXers the following day.
The tourney will play games in other traditional playing venues like the PhilSports Arena and Ynares Arena in Pasig.
Interesting is the PBA's initial sorties at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, former house of the defunct PABL and venue that hosted several big international events, including some disciplines in the Southeast Asian Games.
Seven play dates are slated at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium with the kickoff set April 6 pitting Blackwater against Rain or Shine and NLEX opposite Magnolia.
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Hosting road games are Candon, Ilocos Sur on April 13, Tiaong, Quezon on April 20, Cagayan de Oro on April 27 and Caloocan City on April 13 and April 27.
June Mar Fajardo and his teammates are defending the crown they won over the TNT Tropang Giga last year.
The Beermen were Philippine Cup five-peat champs until they were dethroned, giving way to the rise of new kingpins in the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the 2020 bubble tourney. (SB)
